of eternal truth. THE TWELVE QUESTIONS ON BAPTISM, CONSIDERED AND ANSWERED. "A VILLAGER 99 ON BAPTISM. with it; if they must have faith in such a doctrine, let them have it to themselves, for if they are determined to put their doctrine forward, they must not be surprised if some should be found who are determined to stand against it, nor suffer it uninterruptedly to steal its way A REPLY TO THree of the QUESTIONS OF into the churches. And never could there be a more unseasonable time than is the present time to provoke controversy upon such a sub-[We gave last month Twelve Questions ject as this; a time when ministers are compromising their credentials, and joining with urged by a Lincolnshire "Villager," touchanything the most approved by the populace, ing the ordinance of believers' baptism. -churches divided,-duty-faith rampant, It is, to us, a painful mystery, that even -souls put off with formal instead of vital con- many of the Lord's own dear people are version, people received into churches that are bitterly opposed to a New Testament orneither out of the spirit of the world, nor out dinance, which is as clearly commanded, of the spirit of error, nor dead to the law, nor married to Christ, nor conformed to the order as evidently practised by the first churches, and as signally honoured as any one branch of public worship in the church militant. While we confess it is a mystery, we firmly believe that, in the great majority of cases, that opposition arises from prejudices engendered by the teaching and training to which the opponents have been subjected. Let us, therefore, who see and believe, calmly and consistently contend for that external test of a loving obedience binding (as we are persuaded) upon every ransomed, regenerated, and truly espoused follower of the Lamb. We have received many replies; all cannot be inserted. We commence by giving the following, although they occupy too much of our space. Others may be expected.-ED.] I hope, therefore, when Mr. Row writes again he will write upon the essentials of godliness, and keep his hobbys at home, and use them not for exportation, but merely for home consumption. Deplorable, truly deplorable, that the wondrous, the delightful, the supremely precious theme of an Almighty Saviour's complexity should be deformed by the doctrines of men. Let us then keep our non-essential peculiarities to ourselves, for these little foxes spoil the vines. I do not like fox-hunting, but if they come in my way I must meet them, and stop them if I can; at the same time pray that we may be kept more in the weighty matters of faith, judgment, and mercy. Nov. 9th, 1857. NAPHTALI. From my Watch-Tower. QUERY-WHEN ARE THE ELECT DEAR BROTHER.-Will you, and brother REST IN JESUS. Becalmed and quiet, floating on life's wing, He reigns supreme! He takes of all I have, On me bestows His care. How good my Lord is when he takes my sins, He takes my crosses, fills me with His love, A PAPER, under the signature of a "Villa- thereon. But to prevent the "Villager" from even dreaming that his questions cannot find an answer, I will venture, old as I am, to mend my pen, now nearly worn to its stump, and write a few lines (once more) in defence of one of my Lord and Master's own despised ordinances. But why sign "A Villager ?" Is the man ashamed of his name? I would rather look him full in the face, and meet him fairly on New Testament holy ground. His twelve questions are very easily answered; though with a view to "entanglement" (see Matt. some of them are put in a Pharisaical form, xxii. 15). However, I will briefly reply to three of his questions just now, these appearing the best of the bunch, and leave the other nine for some young Bible Christian school-boy on though that great Baptist polemic, Dr. Gill, the first form in Christ's school, to answer. Alis no more, and the renowned Abraham Booth has long been gone to his heavenly rest; and although, alas! many of our professed baptist ministers, with their churches, keep not the ordinances "as they were delivered;" still, the New Testament remains the standard of decision. "This is the Judge that ends the strife, When men's devices fail." QUESTION 1." Why was Christ baptized alone, and not any of his disciples with him, if he was not baptized as the Head and Representative of his people, but merely as an example for them to follow ? Christ was not baptized with John, but by John and for John and all the rest of the family of heaven." REPLY.-Christ had no disciples when he was baptized. He had not then entered on his ministry. After his baptism, not before, he began to choose his disciples-(see Mark i. 9-13, and also verses 16-20). Certainly Christ was not baptized with John, and my querist cannot tell me whether John himself was baptized or not; but that is of no consequence. John was warranted to baptize, for God sent him to do so. "He (saith John) that sent me to baptize with water," &c. John i. 33. But this first question finishes queerly; assuming that Christ was baptized "for John, and all the rest of the family of heaven!" Surely the man is in a dense fog here; and there I leave him. ministerial day, and, blessed be the name of my Master, I have frequently realized his gracious presence in the very midst of the water. Who can solemnly declare this while engaged sprinkling a few drops of water on the forehead of a poor unconscious baby; for which there is NO Bible warrant ? Now the disciples of Jesus, then with him in Judea, were Jesus' own disciples, and not John's disciples, as "a Villager" would wish to insinuate. They were, some of them, directed by John to Christ; saying to them, "Behold the Lamb of God;" and we have their names, as Andrew, and Philip, and Nathaniel, see John i. verses 35 to 51. They followed Jesus, and were made choice of, by Jesus, to be among the number of his apostles (see Matt. x. 2. 3.) I close my remarks on this fourth question, by an illustration. In St Paul's Church Yard I look up at the great Cathedral, and enquire who erected this stupendous edifice? I am answered that "it was built by Sir Christopher Wren!" I exclaim "what a great nest to be made by a little Wren!" Now I query if Sir Christopher Wren ever laid one single trowel of mortar or placed one solitary stone on that amazing building. He formed the plan, and superintended the whole, from first to last. Hundreds of workmen wrought under his direction; what they did was put down as his doing; so that up to the present day it is stated, that, "St. Paul's Cathedral was built by Sir Christopher Wren." This is the case with every master builder, and of every manufacturer that employs men under him. What they do, is put down as his doing. QUESTION 4.-"Why did not Christ himself baptize, and where is the proof, that his disciples, during his ministry, baptized by his authority and positive command? His first disciples are said to have been baptized by John, and therefore as followers of John and not of Christ, they baptized others: for, when did Christ authorize them to do QUESTION 7.-"Why did Paul thank so?" I am asked, "why did not Christ him- God that he had not baptized more than he self baptize ?" My reply is, Christ himself had, if baptism was a command of Christ? did baptize. So my Bible tells me; and I and, who sent him to baptize, if Christ did most assuredly believe what the sacred Scrip- not? 1 Cor. i. 14 &c." Concerning this text, tures declare. (See John iii. 23). I am en- which perhaps is more frequently used, titled, grammatically, to supply the ellipsis and more confidently pleaded against the in this text, that it may be plain to an ordi- baptists, than almost any other; so strained nary reader. It may, therefore, be read as and distrained to pay what it never owed; follows: "After these things came Jesus and surely never man was so racked to confess HIS disciples (not John's disciples) into the what he never thought of, than was the land of Judea; and there he (Jesus) tarried apostle Paul, when they torture his words, as with them, and there he (Jesus) baptized." implying somewhat like the following,-"I And again, my Bible tells me (John iv. 1). thank God that I have at length seen my That Jesus made and baptized more disci- error and have baptized so few; for Christ ples than John." Now these Scriptures are sent me not to baptize." Why it is a gross libel plain and conclusive. John baptized very on the apostle, even to suppose that to be his many, (see Matt. iii. 5, 6), but Jesus made meaning. John Bradford, in his celebrated, and baptized more disciples than John. He but anti-scriptural sermon, entitled " One made them his disciples, before they were Baptism," almost wickedly impeaches the baptised, that is by his Spirit and grace, and conduct of the apostle Paul, and other discithen they were baptised in water. That ples of our Lord. He says, "the apostles did Jesus himself did baptize, the sacred Word that which they had no right to do, as Paul declares. I most readily grant that he did did; and he also was convinced of his mistake, not baptize them all with his own hands, but and confessed it. He tells us in so many having made them his disciples by his grace, words, that, Christ did not send him to baphis own disciples baptized them, in his pre- tize. Yet, at first, he thought he was to do sence, with his approbation, and, by his au- as others did. I believe that all the apostles thority. What they did by his orders was as did it, that is, baptized, at first; one did it though done by himself. In a word, the Lord because another did; they had been used to Jesus Christ is, as it were, the Baptizer it; it is a hard matter to break through long NOW. "Go, (said he,) preach and baptize; and deep rooted prejudices. I cannot see and lo, I am with you even to the end of the that the example, even of the apostles, can world." I have immersed in water, some be any rule to us for baptizing with water. hundreds of men and women, in my long The disciples often did wrong, and that which THE EARTHEN VESSEL. they had no right to do!" I shall not pollute you, "I thank God that I baptized none of but Crispus and Gaius: fest any should that I baptized in mine own name." GILL: say "Not that the apostle disliked the ordinance of baptism, or the administration of it; and much less that he thought it criminal or an evil in him to perform it; nor was he at any time displeased at the number of persons who desired it of him; but, on the contrary, rejoiced where proper subjects of it were brought to a submission to it; but inasmuch as some persons in the church at Corinth made such an ill use of his having baptized them, he was therefore greatly thankful that it was so ordered in Providence that the far greater part of them were baptized by other ministers." "Lest an should any that I baptized in my say own name."-GILL. "This gives the true reason why the apostle was so thankful he had baptized no more of the members of this church, lest either some should reproach him, as having done it in his own name, as seeking his own honour or interest; or lest others should affect, from their being baptised by him to be called by his name, as he was the author and patron of a new sect." ་ [Nov. 1, 1857. sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, speak we in Christ." 2 Cor. ii. 17. Testament that I am wrong in immersing beIf a "Villager" can prove from the New lievers in water, according to my Lord's commission in Matt. xxviii. 19. I will then renounce the same! thank God that I have at length seen my error, and will do so no more. "We have not followed cunningly devised fables." JOHN A. JONES. Jireh Meeting, London. [Mr. J. A. JONES, being, we believe, the oldest Baptist minister now preaching in the metropolis, we have given him precedence. A number of valuable papers are to hand; but we next select one by a young, but MR. EDITOR.-Dear Sir, the questions of zealous penman, Mr. Samuel Cozens. He says:] and if you will give me a little space, I will "A Villager," are for the most part exceed ingly irrelevant, and egregiously impertinent; arswer the 12 questions seriatim. QUERY 1.-Is it not impious in a worm of the earth to ask the "why" of the proceedings of Him who is God over all and blessed for ever? more modest, we should have given him credit Had the "Villager" been a little for sincerity! but, when he asks a question, and imposes his own answer, I think it looks more like the conduct of a dictator, than the solicitude of an anxious enquirer. answer to the first question, proves nothing His own against water baptism. "For Christ sent me not to baptise," &c. (ver, 17.) GILL.-No doubt Paul had the his baptism?" Because he was not ostentaQUERY 2.-"Why did Christ not once name same mission as the rest of the disciples tious. But let me ask the "Villager," if he had; which was to baptise as well as preach. would have been silent, providing he had been And indeed if he had not been sent at all to baptized as the Representative of his own peobaptise, it would have been unlawful for him to ple? We argue that as his baptism was not have administered baptism to any person what- available for others, there was no necessity for ever. But, his sense is, that baptism was not the naming it. The disciples were not only directed chief and principal business he was about: he was not sent so much about this baptized by him, and this is palpable to the sent to observe his example, but they were positively work, as to preach the gospel, for which he commonest capacity whose eyes are not blinded was most eminently qualified, had peculiar by prejudice; for what can be plainer than the gifts for the discharge of it, and was greatly useful in it." • A certain well known living minister and writer, in a printed letter signed, "Keseph," addres After the above long explanatory quotation, the Establishment, and becoming a Baptist minissed by him to the Hon. Baptist Noel, on his leaving surely the latter part of a "Villager's" ques- ter, says to him as follows, "I hope, sir, you are tion, viz., "Who sent him (that is Paul) to bute infallibility to the apostles, or to charge upon baptise, if Christ did not ?" is too frivolous and God their acts of dissimulation, their sinful fear not so deceived, or so presumptuous, as to attripaltry to merit a sentence of reply. Paul ne- of man, and (alluding to baptism) the continuance ver meant that Christ did not send him to of their legal Jewish ceremonies !" And again baptise; that he did it of his own head, hav- Keseph says, "the dissimulation of the apostles ing no warrant; and, that, as soon as he saw recorded in the Acts, &c., shews us that they his error, he was thankful that he had bap-disciples of our Lord, then, are not to be dewere men of like passions with ourselves." The tised so few, and would do so no more. Yet, pended on, and what is recorded in the Acts of in the teeth of all this, and even in this very the Apostles is no rule to go by. "Arise, let us letter to the church at Corinth, he praises go hence," I charge a "Villager" with being "a that very church, that although he had seen garbler of the word." his error and renounced it; still that "They one part of the sacred scriptures from the other. A garbler is one that invidcontinued to keep the ordinances, as (says he) I would have the whole Bible taken, and not a uously, and to answer a certain purpose, separates I delivered them to you." 1 Cor. xi. 2. Is this part cut out of its connection, in order to make it that honest apostle, that could write to the seemingly speak what it never intended. The same church (2 Cor. i. 17), and say to them, Bible is an harmonious book, and its unaccom"Do I purpose according to the flesh, that modating language is, "I will permit no alteration, with me there should be yea yea, and nay leave me alone." Rev. xxii. 18. 19. "Old-bible nay?" O no, says he, we are not as many menders and New-bible makers, are alike enemies no addition, no subtraction; take me as I am, or which corrupt the word of God: but, as of to God." following,-"Jesus and his disciples came | into the land of Judea, and there he tarried with them and baptized," viz., the disciples with whom he tarried. "And John also was baptizing in Enon," &c. And some who had seen Christ baptizing came to John saying, "Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the SAME baptizeth." &c. John iii. 22, 26. If we go on into the fourth chapter we shall learn who were the baptized. "When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made, and baptized more disciples than John. Though Jesus baptized not (or none, as the word might be, and is sometimes translated) but his disciples." If Jesus did not baptize, he did not make disciples; for he who made disciples, baptized the disciples he made. We ask if Christ sent him not to baptize, why did he baptize at all? The idea is that baptism was not the main business of his mission. QUERY 8.- Because the Lord's supper is of frequent recurrence, and to be observed oft; but baptism is only to be attended to once. QUERY 9.-Because those epistles were addressed (with two or three exceptions) to organised churches who had been taught the ways of the Lord. QUERY 10.-Because there is but one preeminent baptism (if he meant the baptism of the Spirit). It is quite evident that he believed in two baptisms or he would not have been baptized by Ananias, Acts ix. 18, or he would not have baptized Lydia, Acts xvi. 15, and the jailor, Acts xvi. 33, and Crispus, Acts xviii. 8, and others. QUERY 11.-Is an idle, inquisitive question. QUERY 12.-Because the original is not fairly translated, and conveys no definite meaning to the English reader. The quotations from Acts refer to the spirit and not to the ordinance of baptism, and is therefore foreign to the subject. QUERY 3.-"Why are we to be baptized, and not circumcised, when Christ was both? Because he that is circumcised is a debtor to do the whole law; but he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. "Were they not both ordinances antecedent to Christ or the gospel dispensation ?" Yes, and what of that? I will favour the "Villager" with the obZion's king could dispense with what ordinan-servations of some of the greatest Lexicograees he pleased. phers and divines that ever took pen in hand. The Jews dipped themselves entirely under water, and this is the most natural notion of the word baptism.-Calmet's Dict. Baptizo. To dip all over.-Young's LatinEnglish Dict. Baptizo. To plunge, to immerse, to dip into water.-Mintert. The word baptize signifies to immerse.Calvin Institut. QUERY 4.-That Christ baptized I have proved under Query 2. Why his disciples did not baptize during his ministry is no business of ours. Where is it written that Christ's disciples were baptized by John? "When did Christ authorize them to baptize ?" When ? Why when he said go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Matt. xxviii. 19. If you tell me that that means they were to baptize them with the Holy Ghost, I answer, firstly, they were commanded to baptize in the name, and not with the Holy Ghost; and secondly, if it means they were to baptize with the Holy Ghost, then it will follow that they were to baptize with the Father, and with the Son also, which is pre-no posterous. Baptism is dipping, and it was used by the primitive Christians in no other sense than that of dipping.-Bailey's Dict. To baptise, to dip into water.-Wilson's Baptism, dipping.-Bucanus: Institute. Baptiso, to plunge under water.-Leigh. Baptise, to immerse; as we immerse any- QUERY 5.-There was no necessity for water being mentioned in Matt. xxviii. 19, and Mark xvi. 16, because they had never witnessed baptism in any other element, neither is it possible to baptize in any other element. We live in the air, and therefore we cannot be baptized in this; the earth is unyielding, and therefore we cannot be baptized in that; the fire is burning, and therefore we caunot In primitive times, baptism was adminisbe baptized in that; perhaps the "Villager "tered by dipping the person baptised into in his philosophic researches has found out a water.-Dr. Newton. fifth element, or why the question ? QUERY 6.-Because church order was not observed till after the day of Pentecost, after which a church was organised of baptized believers. QUERY 7.-Paul's thanking God that he baptized so few of the Corinthians is not to be understood as militating against the ordinance, but seeing that they were so factious, and so carnal-some being for Paul, some for Apollos, and some for Cephas, as though they had been baptized in the name of Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, he was grateful that however many Apollos or Cephas had baptized, that he had only baptized a few of that dissentious church. To baptise, to plunge.-Bossuet. In primitive times, the manner of baptism, was by dipping the whole body into the water. -Dr. Clarke. I grant that the word baptise signifies to dip.-De Courcy. Baptism, was anciently administered by plunging into water.-Bishop Nicholson. Baptism, a dipping.-Luther. Should the Villager" require any more authorities, I can supply him with a VESSEL full. Hoping that you may be kept stedfast in the faith of the Gospel, I am, Mr. Editor, yours in the truth, S. COZENS. 12, Queen-street, Camden-town, Nov. 3. 66 "IS THERE " ов, ANY HOPE?" THE LOSS OF THE DUNBAR AND ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-TWO PERSONS, AMONG WHOM WAS THE DAUGHTER OF MR. HENRY DOWLING, BAPTIST MINISTER, AT LAUNCESTON, HER HUSBAND, AND THEIR SIX CHILDREN. "Is there any hope?" These were nearly the last words of an immense group of precious souls who were passengers in that lost vessel "the Dunbar," and who being awoke out of their sleep in the middle of the night in the end of August last, had rushed up on deck, and almost frantic at the yawnings of death which here surrounded them, they cried out to the sailors to know if any spark of hope remained? The captain said, "Yes!" but in a moment, the deck burst, the ship was shattered in a thousand pieces, and every soul on board, the captain, the crew (James Johnson excepted,) the passengers, husbands, wives, children, servants, and all, were burried into the foaming sea; and there they sunk, never, in this world, to rise again. What a sudden, what an unexpected transi. tion! For months they had anticipated a safe arrival in Sydney, they had been carried kindly over many a dangerous sea, and thrown hither and thither by many a threatening wave. But the Lighthouse was in sight, the desired haven was near: they retired to rest expecting that perhaps the next few hours would find them in their adopted homes. But, alas! alas! Oh! heart-rending thought! while they were dreaming of their new destination, the ship struck, the top masts were driven to the winds, "Breakers a-head!" was loudly called; from their quiet beds they fled with shrieks and screams which none can describe, and ere reflection could survey the indescribably awful crisis, the waves washed their bodies down to the deeps; and their spirits returned unto God who gave them. Where now they are, we cannot tell. We shall be truly glad to learn that any of them were true believers in the exalted PRINCE OF PEACE; because to them, painful as to sight and sense the scene appeared; to them, the entrance into glory was certain, although the passage, for a moment, might be terrific, and dark. say to you, in such a plight, there is “No HOPE;" the next rolling wave of life's uncertain sea may wash thee, body and soul, into everlasting woe! But, if at Mercy's door, with a sense of thy danger, and a deep-wrought desire to be found in Christ, thou art asking, "Is there any hope?" we answer, "YES, there is hope, and assurance too; for our Captain has, in ten thousand cases, verified that precious promise, "Him that cometh unto me I will in nowise cast out." Our highly esteemed, and much revered brother in Christ, Henry Dowling, of Launceston, has sent us The Launceston Review, with full particulars of this most painful event. Mr. Dowling has an excellent son and his family, who have recently arrived in London from Australia; an excellent Christian lady, Mrs. Solomon, also a member of Mr. Dowling's church, has this last summer come to England'; from hence, and other sources, we have ample proof of the very high position (as a minister of Christ, and as a most useful member of society) which Mr. Dowling occupies in Tasmania. He has passed the three-score and ten, but is hale, cheerful, full of energy, fruitful, devoted, and increasingly honored. This must have been a severe stroke to his most affectionate heart; but we are persuaded that, like another ancient saint, he has submissively bowed his head, with, 66 IT IS THE LORD, let him do as seemeth him good." We have only room for a very brief extract from the paper referred to. The Sydney papers say, The first class ship Dunbar, which sailed from Plymouth on the 31st of May, had arrived off the light house late on Thursday night, August 27. The wind was blowing in gusts at the time, and a drizzling rain. The captain made for the heads, but must have mistaken a gap near the lighthouse for the entrance: as the vessel struck immediately be neath the lighthouse. The first shock was fearful, the three topmasts were carried away at once, and the mizen masts went immediplete breach over her, and she broke up with ately afterwards. The sea was making a coma fearful crash five minutes after striking. There were sixty-three passengers and fiftynine officers and seamen, every soul of whom perished, with the exception of one seaman named James Johnson, who was most miraculously preserved, and alone left to give particulars of this fearful calamity. This event cast the city into deep gloom, and every place of business was closed on the day that the few bodies that were recovered were buried. How truly blest are they who in THE LORD believe; and who, covered beneath the shadow of His wings can never perish! Reader! Art thou a heaven-born soul? Hast thou fled for refuge to lay bold upon the Hope set before you? Art thou in Christ? Then, thou hast nothing to fear from seas or storms, for though they may carry thee out of this dying world, thy FATHER-GOD will safely take thee to His Home, to his heaven, to dwell with all the glorified for ever. Amen. But, if in nature's deadly cavern still thou art, or if with only a name to live, a mere empty lamp without one drop of oil; if neither in covenant-love, atoning blood, or gosling's daughter), her husband, their six children Among them Mrs. Kilner Waller (Mr. Dowpel-power thou standest accepted, we dare to and servant. |